Welcome to my backyard city homestead
You don’t have to move to the middle of nowhere to become a 'homesteader'. You can start right where you are. Today.
Right off the bat, let’s dispel a few common misconceptions that I observe over and over. Myth: Harvest is at the end of summer. Sometimes new gardeners have the idea that gardening is like a sandwich. They expect to plant in the spring and harvest in the fall. Truth: If you’ve gardened for awhile, you …
First of all, let me state for the record that I am a die-hard, back-to-basics kind of a cook in my own kitchen. I prefer everything homemade, and I’m not opposed to spending a lot of time on the creation of certain meals. I am not a fan of prepared meals or processed food, and …
Continue reading “Homemade Mixes, Sauces, Salsas, Dips and Dressings”
For years this quote was over my kitchen door leading out to the garden. Sadly I had to take it down a couple of years ago to repaint the wall, but its in the plan to replace it. It is an essential life truth. Is there a difference between home grown tomatoes and store bought …
First of all, let’s clarify the name – its always sorta bugged me. It implies that this soup is traditionally served at Italian weddings, but its not. It is actually a poor translation of the Italian name – Minestra Maritata, which directly translates: Minestra – Soup, Maritata – Married. While this doesn’t roll off the …
Two of the most important things to remember about gardening is that 1) there are a lot of ‘rules’2) some of those rules should be obeyed, but some of them – you must be willing to break to move ahead There are many things about gardening that one has to experience to understand what the …
Continue reading “extending your garden season adds BOUNTY to your table”
Simply put, “a weed is a plant considered undesirable”, but perhaps it might be undesirable in one situation – while quite desirable in another. It is merely a label for a plant in the wrong place. The term itself is a relative term, and what may be a weed to you may not be to me, and vice versa. If a weed is characterized by not being wanted, then does wanting it, mean it is no longer – a weed?
“A weed is a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.” Ralph Waldo Emerson Whether we’re talking about people, animals, or plants, a good companion provides some sort of benefit, so with that definition in mind, Companion planting is simply the practice of deliberately planting different types of plants in the same proximity for …
Continue reading “Good Companions Bring out the Best in a Garden”
“By Failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin At the risk of being too cliche, Benjamin’s counsel about planning is absolutely true. It may be tempting to skim through the planning stage or even to skip if altogether, but if you do, I promise you will regret it in the not-to-distant-future. …
part 4: M,N,O,P in this chapter: Mullein, Mint, Nasturtium, Oregano, Parsley, Plantain, Poppies, Radish leaves.Some inside, some outside. Chapter continues to be a work in progress. I’d love to read your comments below. MULLEIN Mullein is a big, tall, unique looking plant with long fuzzy leaves, and in the flowering years it can reach six …
Continue reading “Common Herbs in your House and Yard: part 5 – Mullein – Poppies to Radish Greens”
Part 3 – H, I, J, K, L in this chapter: Horse Radish, Lamb’s Ears, Lamb’s Quarters, Lavender, Lovage.Some inside, some outside. Chapter continues to be a work in progress. I’d love to read your comments below. HORSE RADISH Horseradish is a rugged hardy perennial, even in cold climates. In fact, the winter forces the …
Continue reading “Common Herbs in your House and Yard: part 4 Horseradish to Lovage”